Murder by Invitation: A totally addictive historical cozy mystery (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 15) by Verity Bright

Author:Verity Bright [Bright, Verity]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781837907151
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2023-09-26T16:00:00+00:00

24

As Clifford turned off the Rolls’ engine, the headlamps faded to black, the darkness enveloping Eleanor like a shroud. She shook herself as Fry and Seldon clicked their torches on. The weak beams, however, made the surrounding darkness even more impenetrable. She shuddered as she recognised the outline of Little Buckford’s village hall roof, just visible against the moonlit sky. She’d always thought the weathervane of a farmer harvesting his crops was rather quaint, but now it looked for all the world like the Grim Reaper wielding his scythe.

Despite still being clad in just her evening gown and sheer organza stole, it wasn’t the night air making her shiver as she stood on the edge of the thick beech wood. The sound of a twig cracking underfoot made her jump. Twenty feet away in the woods, a gaunt man waited for Seldon and Fry to join him.

Must be the man who found poor Jimmie Dawkins, Ellie.

As Seldon questioned him, the man pointed into the woods. His wiry-haired dog barked and pulled in the opposite direction, straining on his rope lead. The man yanked him back, but seemed equally eager to be gone.

‘’Tain’t nothin’ else to tell you, sir. Honest,’ his reedy voice floated over to her.

Seldon’s torch beam illuminated the man’s haggard features. ‘Other than you literally stumbled across the body while out here? Doing what, exactly?’

The man shifted his feet and looked away.

Clifford coughed quietly as he caught Seldon’s eye.

‘Alright, we can leave that for the moment,’ Seldon grunted. ‘Now, did you recognise the deceased?’

The man shook his head vehemently. ‘I never stopped to check, sir! Death don’t look kindly on folks as go pokin’ their noses into its business. But from the leather apron what I saw, I reckoned it was poor Clanger lyin’ there. But like I told Fry here, I just ran as fast as these old legs would take me to the police house. And, if as it’s all the same, havin’ done me duty, I’d like ’em to do the same back to mine now!’

Seldon held up a halting hand. ‘Constable Fry, do you have this man’s details?’

Fry scratched his head. ‘Why, course, sir. ’Tis Long Cyril as lives just along Slicketts Lane, you might have seen his place, ’tis past—’

‘Good work,’ Seldon interrupted, nodding at the man. ‘Alright, thank you for reporting what you found and for waiting. However, don’t leave the area until Constable Fry lets you know it’s fine to do so.’

‘Leave t’village I were born in? Why the devil’s boots would I want to do that?’ His words floated back to them as he made a hasty retreat.

Seldon turned to Fry. ‘Body next.’ He nodded to Clifford.

‘I shall do my utmost, sir.’

Eleanor frowned. ‘To do what?’

‘I really couldn’t say, my lady, however’ – he waved towards the Rolls – ‘you might find the atmosphere considerably less unsettling in the—’

She shook her head. ‘I don’t need mollycoddling, thank you.’

‘Nor to witness the distressing spectacle of yet another deceased person’s remains being

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